“...girlfriends/wives making their men quit playing because of jealousy...”
Haha!!! Yeah, well, nobody can “make” you do anything - you either choose to comply, or you don’t.
For me, I stopped the band thing because it got old, real fast, staying out till 3am, breaking down equipment, setting it back up somewhere else, then having to get up for the job on Monday... playing weeknight gigs was tough too. One band I was in - we had a steady Wednesday night gig at a local place, and man, that was brutal on Thursday morning, getting up to be in work by 6:30am. Kids came along, fatherhood took over, and there ya go...
It’s easier when you’re 21 or 22... not so much at 53.
Now, girls who play guitar (and by PLAY it, I mean a girl who can SHRED the fingerboard with the best) I have always found to be compelling. I’ve seen a few of them in the club circuit over the years. It’s nice to watch; shows they had the same level of determination and devotion that I put into it, and I can appreciate it very much.
“...Even went through it with one girlfriend himself, and he dumped her to play drums...”
Precisely what I would have done!!! Haha!
I’ve also played bass and keyboards over the years. Sold most of my gear, but I still one bass and a couple of my guitars.
I still jam with some of my buddies occasionally. It’s a lot of enjoyment, and I don’t miss the grind...
Well... maybe occasionally I do...in a lot of ways, it was a much better time in my life. Less worries, less responsibilities, and less stress. All I had to worry about was me, and playing well, and making a good show for the audience.
I dunno. Hard to say.
Been there, done that, don’t do it anymore. I like the acoustic trio thing now, play a coffee shop from 7-9, minimal gear, home by 11 usually. Or, we do a lot of daytime, weekend fundraisers. I don’t miss the days of a full-on, top 40 band with all the gear. Playing an art show next Thursday from 5-8, and then a Forza Coffee shop that Saturday from 7-9. Don’t make much $$$, but that’s not the point anymore. I just like to play. I just might request that my ashes get stuffed into my Martin! HAHA!